Week 10 - OFBHL playoff picture still cloudy but a bit more focused as the cream rises late in the season

2017-11-26

With just 2 games remaining on the schedule (plus a makeup game) the playoff picture is starting to come into focus, 4 teams have clinched their A pool spot but the other 4 spots are still up for grabs with every
other team still mathematically in contention, this week is huge as teams can clinch an A pool invitation or be eliminated in virtually every game. Bring on the games!

You should have all received an email last week with a few notes regarding this season and the upcoming one, please give it a quick read and reply about the upcoming season when you can.

Squires put on a show as Couple Retreat book their ticket to the A

Game one on the day was a big one as CR were looking to clinch their A pool spot and Ch4 were in need of a win to stay within striking distance of the top 8, this game was a shootout from start to finish and it was
the offensive dynamo for CR Jeff Squires who would be the difference, Jeff would pick up a goal and assist in the first period then double down with 2 more goals and another assist in the second as CR hold on
despite a furious comback attempt for Ch4 to take a 7-6 win, Brad Smith, Josianne Garneau and spare Ryan Hawkins would all notch 3 points for the losers while Melissa Newhook had a pair
including the GWG for CR.

Ferguson continues dominant season by choking out Thongs N Dongs

Another big game in the standings, this time it was DE needing a win to clinch an A pool position while TnD are hanging precariously to an A slot of their own, all season DE tender Brent Ferguson has been a wall
and this game was no different as DE were outshot 40-37 but still came away with a 5-2 W, as usual DE were led offensively by Steve Toste with a goal and 2 assists and Chelsea Ferguson who's having a breakout
season of her own adding a goal and assist to her totals in this one, TnD dominated large stretches of the game but boomers Ryan Hawkins and Bernie Car were able to find any holes in the DE keepers armour
in this one.

JTT clinch top 8 position thanks to stifling D

Same story once again as JTT were looking to clinch while GC need to string together some Ws to get into the top 8, this game was a tight one with JTT controlling the play and the shot counter but unable to put the game away.
After 1 period the game was locked at 1-1, 5 minutes into the 2nd frame JTT would score a pair of goals 2 minutes apart, that would turn out to be the difference as JTT win in a 4-2 final outshooting GC 40-24 in the game. Sniper Don Prior led the way
for JTT with a pair of goals while Eric Bekkers and Kelly Brant had 2 points apiece in a losing effort.

Laroche breaks ENT hearts with a stellar performance

Back on November 5th the Ottawa Senators traded WTC namesake Kyle Turris to the Nashville Predators, that same day WTC exploded for an 8-2 win and this week made it 3 wins in 4 games since the trade occurred,
could it be a coincidence or was Turris a cancer in the WTC dressing room? WTC are a rejuvenated team of late and this week they can thank their goaltender Marc Laroche for the victory, "Rock" was on fire
in this one holding a shutout into the final 2 minutes before giving up a late pair to make it a 5-2 win over ENT. The result was not due to a lack of effort from ENT who led on the shot counter 46-31 but couldn't
find the net until there was just 1:31 left to play. Frank Zic, Sean Malloy and Melissa Smith all accounted for a pair of points for WTC who now sit just a point out of the top 8 after starting the
season with one win in their first 6 games.

Mercy me... Shameless mercied for a second straight game in battle of the basement

After starting the season with 2 wins in 3 games things have not gone well at all for Shameless, things culminated last week in a 7-0 loss but the schedule was kinder this week as they faced off against the team closest to them
at the bottom of the standings in R&G but unfortunately for Shameless things did not improve. Things started well for Shameless with Mark Yeates potting a pair in the first period while the spares would reply for R&G as they
held a 3-2 lead at the break with the shots even at 25-25, early in the second Yeates would score his hat trick marker to tie it up but after that the wheels would not only come off for Shameless but all 4 would explode
simultaneously as it got really ugly really quickly, when the dust cleared R&G had scored 7 goals in 14 minutes to end this one in a mercy. Under-rated rear guard Pat Overhoff would notch his first 2 goals of the
season along with FIVE assists, the 7 points nearly doubling his season scoring thus far, while sniper Kelly Brant would add 6 assists of her own in the lopsided victory.

It's the Fong/Blondeau-show as Y&G barely avoid a mercy of their own

On paper this looked like a great matchup with 2 teams in the middle of standings looking to inch upwards, unfortunately for Y&G this one was not played on paper, after back and forth opening few minutes BD captain
Michel Blondeau would show why he's a perennial top scorer and best offensive player as he would strike twice in a minute both goals of the highlight reel variety, BD would go on to score the next 6 goals in this game
putting Y&G on the edge of a mercy with 10 minutes to play, late arriving rookie Stanley McGillis would flash some great hands and vision to finally get Y&G on the board with a goal and assist in the last 10 to make sure this
wouldn't end early but the game was never in doubt as BD put it in cruise control taking a 7-2 win. Credit to BD rookie goaltender Jason Fong, after a rough start to his OFBHL career that probably had a few shooters
circling their game with his team on the calendar Jason has rebounded big time allowing 14 goals in his last 5 games, all victories for his team who now look like a serious Bubba Cup contender.

GBTJ hang on to earn a tough 2 points over Stefanus

Last game of the day was maybe the biggest one in the standings as it featured Stefanus who came into the day in 1st place versus GBTJ who had held that top position before losing 2 of their last 3 games, and as soon as the ball
was dropped the game did not disappoint and both teams were flying and the intensity was high, the teams would trade chances in the first but only one shot on each side would beat the keeper despite 45 combined shots Steve Quach
and Devin McManus were sharp. Early in the second GBTJ would take advantage of a PP opportunity only to see Stefanus tie the game again on a Litt St-Jean snipe, with just 6 minutes on the clock Denise Smith
would restore the GBTJ lead with her 3rd point of the day, this time Quach would shut the door and despite some great chances GBTJ would add an ENG to walk away 4-2 victors. The win puts them just a point out of first place (with a
game in hand) while Stefanus fail to clinch their A pool spot but need just a point in their final 2 games to do just that.

About Our League

Established in January 2000 and now entering our 37th season of continuous operation, the OFBHL is the pre-eminent recreational, mixed ball hockey league in the Ottawa area. We strive to offer our players a unique and fun experience each and every season!